Remember the Frightening Scenes Under an Interstate Known as ’70’?

Publisher’s Note: As Swank Construction was preparing to begin the enormous, $214 million project involving 26 bridges and ramps along the 14.5 miles of Interstate 70 in late 2019, local residents began taking hard looks beneath the infrastructure that had been in place for more than 60 years. The freeway had become the one and only way local motorists knew to navigate to destinations within Wheeling’s and Ohio County’s borders, and that meant new paths would have to be learned

But how did the State of West Virginia allow for the piers, bridges, and ramps to decay so badly that rebar was exposed, bridge joints were uneven, and see-through holes were repaired using concrete and plywood? While Swank employees are expected to continue working in some areas well past the October 27 deadline, the majority of the replacements and repairs have been completed so the time has arrived to begin remembering just how dilapidated the federal roadway was before it was finally addressed in November 2019.

Ohio County Sheriff Tom Howard believes the work being performed along the westbound lanes of Interstate 70 is an “about-time-positive,” but he admits concern about the eastbound side now that he’s examined the infrastructure near Fulton.

Motorists traveling westbound on I-70 must depart the freeway at Exit 2A because the three westbound bridge systems leading to Wheeling Tunnel are set for complete demolition during the next nine months. The eastbound lanes will meet the same fate in 2021, according to the construction schedule released by the state Division of Highways.

“We know how long these bridges have been a topic with the state people, and anyone who lives in this area should be happy that it’s finally getting done,” Howard said. “For a long time, I think we all took the interstate for granted, but this work is long overdue and that’s why they have to take those bridges down. They’re that bad.

“And if they’re that bad, the eastbound bridges have to be, too. That’s why they will be taken down hopefully next year,” the sheriff said. “But after what I have seen, I just hope it lasts that long because it looks really bad underneath. I don’t think anyone knew just how bad these bridges have been for a lot of years.”

The Scope

A total of 26 bridges and ramps will be addressed during the “Road to Prosperity” project, and that means the $215 million, three-year project is funded by West Virginians with zero federal dollars involved. The bond proposal was passed by Mountain State voters in 2017, but the Ohio County freeway project was delayed a year because initial bid proposals arrived nearly $100 million above DOH projections.

The scope, or project plan, was reduced by state officials by eliminating 20-year paving and removing two bridge systems.

“The last two are the ones that are closest to the state line, and I guess they determined them to be OK for now,” Howard said. “All of this infrastructure was constructed in the 1950s, and nothing close to what’s taking place now has ever taken place. That’s 60 year’s worth of wear and tear.

“That’s why I worry about the eastbound side in the Fulton area. I’ve been down there checking up on the crews and making sure everything is OK, but you can’t help but look up at those bridges,” he said. “I’m not an engineer, but there’s a lot that doesn’t look right. The decay is really incredible. Visible rebar can’t be good.”

Removing the decking on the westbound lanes began in the Fulton area more than a week ago, and, weather permitting, even overnight. Once concrete removal is complete, the steel can be removed, and the concrete piers can be smashed.

“When most of the westbound side is gone, it’ll be something many folks in this area have never seen, including me,” Howard said. “I think people have been taking their time on the detours, and that’s a very good thing, but with the flash flood warnings for (today,) it makes me worry about Wheeling Hill.

“We’re saturated, that’s for sure, and usually bad things happen along our roads in this area when that’s the case. We’ve seen what has happened in Brooke County along W.Va. Route 2, and what took place (Monday) in Morgantown with the falling boulders,” he said. “The top of Wheeling Hill has come down before, and those debris walls along the west side are there for a reason. But if there is a big slide, those walls aren’t going to stop it and we’ll lose that detour.”

Hey Speed Racer

Speed limits have been reduced along Ohio County’s 14.5-mile stretch of Interstate 70, and the Sheriff confirmed his deputies have issued a plethora of citations the past two months. The most violations in the county-long construction zone, have involved speeding.

“We have ticketed people who were going over 100 mph,” Howard said. “I would estimate the average violation to be around 70 mph, but those limits were lowered to try and keep people safe. That’s what all of this is about.

“There are just a lot of things about this interstate project that concerns me, and I guess that’s natural. I think we all have to be hopeful that it goes as planned,” he added. “The sooner I see those Fulton bridges replaced in both directions, though, the better I will feel about the safety of the motorists driving on them.”